The Importance Of Having A Revolver

This is a discussion on The Importance Of Having A Revolver within the Defensive Carry Guns forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; The only gun that I've had to send back for work is my Smith and Wesson 642.
That said, I plan on adding more revolvers ...

Someone, please tell me what bears have to do with this forum? Funny how some have to bring in a completely irrelevant data bit when they have nothing else to say. Who actually cc's a 454 or 460 or 500? Anyone? Anyone?

Sure , I will..... because if a bear is attacking ... you want the most reliable gun you can have, as you don't get any second chances. Unlike a shooting where they might miss , be a bad aim, and you get out of there..... a bear will chase you down. You don't see very many people carrying .45's and relying on them doing the job.

It's all about "reliability" when your rear is on the line.

It doesn't have to be a 454 - 460 - 500 to shoot and kill a bear. Although it wouldn't hurt.

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. --- Will Rogers --- Chief Justice John Roberts : "I don't see how you can read Heller and not take away from it the notion that the Second Amendment...was extremely important to the framers in their view of what liberty meant."

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. --- Will Rogers --- Chief Justice John Roberts : "I don't see how you can read Heller and not take away from it the notion that the Second Amendment...was extremely important to the framers in their view of what liberty meant."

I own Police Service Six and it is an excellent weapon. Sturdy construction and fires both 357 and 38 so you have option between two types of ammunition. As far as needing a revolver I'd say its a matter of taste. Glock pistols are almost as simple as revolvers put in magazine load the first round and you have them in the same state as a loaded revolver, ready to go. The real benefit of a revolver in my opinion is the use of 357 magnum Hollow points. The 357 magnum achieves a speed that gives more consistent expansion and at loads from 125 to 158 gr. it gives some versatility with just that round, not to mention the ability to use 38 special in the same weapon. I like having a revolver but I still prefer my Glock 19. Matter of taste. : )

I own Police Service Six and it is an excellent weapon. Sturdy construction and fires both 357 and 38 so you have option between two types of ammunition. As far as needing a revolver I'd say its a matter of taste. Glock pistols are almost as simple as revolvers put in magazine load the first round and you have them in the same state as a loaded revolver, ready to go. The real benefit of a revolver in my opinion is the use of 357 magnum Hollow points. The 357 magnum achieves a speed that gives more consistent expansion and at loads from 125 to 158 gr. it gives some versatility with just that round, not to mention the ability to use 38 special in the same weapon. I like having a revolver but I still prefer my Glock 19. Matter of taste. : )

sounds like you need a Glock 20 or 29 that way you can keep your glock and out muscle the 357

In 45 yrs of shooting and many carrying, I've never had a revolver fail, and cannot say that for semi-autos.

My 40+ year experience has been the same. Actually I did have one revolver failure in all that time which was resolved rather quickly by cleaning the crud accumulation from the extractor. I guess you could say I trust revolvers.

"A heavily armed citizenry is not about overthrowing the government; it is about preventing the government from overthrowing liberty. A people stripped of their right of self defense is defenseless against their own government." -source

Really? I never have had a problem with a revolver in over thirty years of carrying...wish I could say the same for automatics. My first auto failure was with my Army issue .45 ACP after two weeks in the box down at Ft Irwin. Numerous personal auto malfunctions with the store bought. But then...that is pretty much the norm as I understand it.

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. --- Will Rogers --- Chief Justice John Roberts : "I don't see how you can read Heller and not take away from it the notion that the Second Amendment...was extremely important to the framers in their view of what liberty meant."

Revolvers are a great firearm to have, and everybody should own at least one. But don't be fooled into thinking that a revolver can't/won't fail you...they CAN lock up. If it's mechanical, it can fail.

I guess it is possible, but in 40+ years of wheel gun shooting, 4-6 times a month, it has N-E-V-E-R HAPPENED TO ME.

I love my little airweight j-frame and couldn't imagine not having it. It gets considerable carry time plus that is my toss in the pocket [w/ pocket holster] go-to when walking the dog at night. It also stays readily and easily accessible in my nightstand (along w/ my semi-auto). I just love it because it gives me options. There are times when gearing up with my XD9sc just isn't feasible depending on what I'm wearing, where I'm going or how much of a hurry I'm in. With my 642 I really have NO excuse what-so-ever to not be carrying at least something. If I have to run out the door it takes 2 seconds to grab and toss in my pocket where it easily disappears. That's my baby there! I agree with those of the mindset that EVERYBODY should own at least one!

I'm curious to note that some people say it is easier to clean and operate a Glock than a revolver. Someone else may have addressed this but I only read the first page.

Unless you're using some kind of funky revolver I don't see how this is the case. You don't even have to take anything apart to clean a revolver, everything is right out there in the open. Glocks are fairly easy to field strip but still require directions and a bit of learning to do so. A little bit more surface area to clean in a semi auto also.

I say revolvers are the utmost in simplicity for cleaning and operation. My first handgun purchased was a revolver, and I don't think I'll ever get rid of it. I don't carry it much any more because I can't seem to hit the broad side of a barn with it, and haven't been able to refine my skills due to the price and availability problems that have plagued .38 Special in recent years.